European States Must Cooperate with Secret CIA Prison Inquiries

(New York, January 9, 2006) – European governments should cooperate fully with investigations into alleged secret CIA detention centers in Europe and the unlawful transfer of detainees in CIA custody over European soil, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to foreign ministers of Council of Europe member states.

European governments must treat these Council of Europe investigations with the seriousness they require and deserve Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director of Human Rights Watch

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Allegations in November that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency maintained secret detention facilities in Europe led the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly and its Secretary-General to initiate investigations. Human Rights Watch said that government cooperation was necessary for these investigations to succeed in uncovering the truth about unlawful detentions on European soil and the European role in the transfer of detainees to countries with records of torture.  
 
“European governments must treat these Council of Europe investigations with the seriousness they require and deserve,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “The best way to prevent future CIA abuses on European soil is to investigate the illegal activities that have already occurred.”  
 
Click to view the open letter.
 

 

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